Only One Gospel

INTRO

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1) THE Gospel Preached (1a, 3-4)

Paul “told the good news” (euangelizō)

He was certain to share the message of Jesus with others.

The Gospel message was “of first importance”.

There are important beliefs we must hold, but there is one that is more important than any others in its implications:

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures”

Isaiah 53.

“…that he was buried”

“…that he was raised on the third day according with the Scriptures”

Hosea 6:1-2 “1 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Matthew 12:40 “40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

“…that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

Jesus didn’t just “rise from the dead” figuratively…it was literal! There are many witnesses, but especially among those witnesses are the ones who knew him best.

The Gospel is the most central idea in all of human history.

We must be dedicated to telling people about the Good News of Hope we have in Jesus.

There is no other place for ultimate peace, ultimate purpose, or ultimate forgiveness than with Jesus.

We must be dedicated to sharing the Gospel message!

We can do good deeds and kind things, but if we do not share the Gospel, then what good have we really done for a person?

It is only temporary. Not good that will last!

We need to become a people that no matter what, if I spend any amount of time with a person, I’m going to tell them about the Gospel: That Jesus died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, and that all this is testified to by eye witnesses!

2) THE Gospel Received (v.1b, 5-9)

We must truly receive the Gospel.

The Corinthians received the Gospel…that is they accepted its validity and dedicated their hearts, minds, and lives to it.

It says, they stood in the Gospel.

You can’t stand in something you are not committed to.

Paul is able to address them with spiritual truths and call them back to foundational living that centered around Jesus, because they believe in Him.

This is not a “belief” that acknowledges something happened or is at least plausible. It’s not about giving a nod to correct facts.

This is a belief that is a conviction that changes your entire drive for living life each and every day.

Their convictions are shared by a whole host of eye witnesses.

Those who truly believe Jesus will have changed lives and transformed minds and hearts.

In Christ, we have completely new identities because we realize it is Jesus who defines and directs our lives.

The lives of the Corinthians and all of those who heard and received the good news are now joined together by the Gospel.

This is why true believers still gather today!

This is why Jesus established His Church and says that we are all part of one body!

This is why Hebrews 12:1 says, that since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every sin that entangles us and run with endurance the race that is before us!

3) THE Gospel Preserved (v.2, 10-11)

Paul draws the Corinthians to a reality about the Gospel: It must be preserved in our lives through perseverance if we are to be truly saved by it.

This means that receiving the Gospel is not praying the sinners prayer, it’s surrendering a sinners life to receive new life in Jesus!

The new life we get from Jesus is continual. It’s a new look on life that is lived out daily and is filled with spiritual growth and maturity.

It’s living life, Jesus’ way and growing in our understanding of what that means as we walk in relationship with Him!

There are many who hear the Gospel and give acknowledgement to the Gospel without receiving the Gospel.

If you do not have a desire and a drive and a realization of living Gospel-centered lives that revolve around the Word of God, then you have not received Jesus.

You can have a belief that is not received if your mind and your heart are not on the same page.

If we do not “hold fast to the word” preached to us, then we believe in vain.

That is if the Gospel is not evident in our lives by a love for Jesus, a love and dedication for the ways of Jesus, and a love for the people of Jesus, then our “belief” is in vain.

There is no salvation for those who acknowledge the historicity of the events of Easter, or the historicity of a person named Jesus, but are not committed to Jesus as Lord of their lives.

This is the Only True Gospel.

I don’t care what other faiths, other churches, or other traditions may tell you: This is the only Gospel and the only way for salvation.

Galatians 1:6–10 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

What Paul tells the Galatians and the Corinthians is this: There is only one Gospel and it’s this: Jesus died for your sin, was buried, was raised three days later, and there are many eye witnesses to whom He appeared. To receive this Gospel is to commit your live to Jesus: To stand in Him, to be saved in Him, and to be shaped by Him so that you can say “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” (vs. 10)

CALL TO RESPOND

NO ONE KNOWS YOUR HEART BUT YOU AND GOD.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE GOSPEL, BY WHICH YOU STAND, BY WHICH YOU ARE SAVED, AND BY WHY WHICH YOU ARE HOLDING FAST?

If the answer is “NO” then what’s holding you back, and is it worth forfeiting eternity with Jesus over? Why not commit to Jesus today?

If the answer is “I’M NOT SURE” then why don’t you be sure and decide today to fully commit to Him?

If the answer is “YES” then who do you need to share the Gospel with? Come and pray for that person and commit to sharing the Gospel with them soon!